James Murphy
CASTERTON SANDFORD 15.9 (99) d KONGORONG 0.5 (5)
CASTERTON SANDFORD has finished the minor season on top of the Limestone Coast Women’s Football League ladder.
The final home-and-away games were played on Sunday and with room for movement inside the top four, things went as expected.
The Cats only needed to win to claim top spot and they did so in convincing fashion with a 99-5 point win over Kongorong.
Led by a best-on-ground performance from Libby Altorfer the Cats were never in doubt on their home deck.
They put three goals on the board in the first term, while the Hawks managed two behinds.
Another three majors from the hosts put them 33 points clear at the main break.
Kongorong did not bother the scorers in the second half and its five behinds left much to be desired.
However, Casterton Sandford had no trouble finding the big sticks.
Alena Tranter was the top scorer with four majors, while Altorfer and Chloe Foster booted three each and Brianna Spratling had two.
By the final change the margin was 48, before a huge fourth quarter produced seven goals and four behinds to drive the Cats home in style.
Gabrielle Sullivan also featured highly in the best players, followed by Tranter, Zhane Crawford, Spratling and Foster.
Kongorong was best served by Sarah Lucas, who was aided by Janita Galloway, Hannah Kuhl-Miller and Tilah Buckingham.
KYBYBOLITE 5.14 (44) d 2.0 (12)
Sunday’s closest Round 9 clash was the grand final rematch between South Gambier and Kybybolite at Penola’s McCorquindale Park.
The game unfolded in a similar fashion to the 2022 decider, with Kyby too strong on the day.
The Demons started strongly with two goals in the opening term, while the Tigers scored 1.1 to trail by five points.
However, from there the scoring dried up for South and it did not trouble the scorekeepers from there.
Kyby had all of the ball in the second term and converted two of 10 scoring shots.
Despite some back-and-forth play, Kyby kept South under wraps and a goal in the third and fourth quarters kept the scoreboard ticking over.
Dellie Brown was her usual self around the contest and emerged from most scuffles with ball in hand.
Her efforts had her named best on ground, while Taylor Ryan was the most accurate boot with two goals.
Brown also found the big sticks, while Kate Edmonds and Jamie Wachtel rounded out the goalkickers.
Jessica Cox, Anna Davies, Erin Ewer and Sarah Ottoson-Crossling were all among the best players in a solid performance from the Tigers.
The Demons were led again by Sophie Wight, joined by Lana Shepherd, Chloe Lines, Tonique Burford and Kaitlyn Horrigan in the best.
MUNDULLA 24.19 (163) d MILLICENT 0.0 (0)
It may have been expected but that did not take any of the sting away when Millicent was dealt a 163-point drubbing by Mundulla at Island Park.
The writing was on the wall early in the piece after a 52-0 opening quarter.
Mundulla finished up with an impressive 24 goals, with Kaylene Rowett banging through a huge 10 goals.
The scoreboard remained under pressure in the lead up to half time with the margin reaching 73 points at the break.
Another eight majors followed in the third and five more in the last to cap off a dominant performance.
Despite Rowett’s proficiency in front of goal, Natasha Horne received the best-on-ground honours for her driving force into attack.
Casey McElroy was another standout, along with Erin Horsnell – who scored six goals – Sammy Hunt and Matilda Harris.
Other multiple goal scorers included Natalie Twigden and Melody Maddern with three and two respectively.
Kelsie Wilkinson and Stephanie Gilbert were the best for the Saints and fought valiantly despite the result.
PENOLA 18.19 (127) d KALANGADOO 0.0 (0)
Penola capped off the minor rounds with a big win on home ground when the Eagles hosted Kalangadoo at McCorquindale Park.
The final result was a 127-0 point victory after four quarters of one-way traffic.
The Eagles set up a 34-point margin at the first break and from there the game was won.
Heidi Berkin was in fine form and made her presence known around the ground, earning the best player accolade for the match.
Captain Caroline McGrath was also solid, as was Jasmine Ryan, Angela Broad and Shandeen Balshaw.
Broad led the charge in front of goals again with six for the day, while Ryan (three), Ellise Berkin, Nicole Davidson and Lyndall Feast (two) also scored multiple.
At half time the margin was 53 points, before a four-goal return pushed the Eagles out to 88 points at the final change.
They did not take the foot off the gas in the fourth and with six majors pushed past the 100-point mark to finish up with 127.
Kalangadoo had its moments throughout the game, but often came unstuck on the delivery as Penola intercepted most attempts to move into attack.
Ebony Wurst received the best-on-ground honours for the Magpies, while Georgia Gentile and Kellie Wallace also putting up a fight.
However, it was not enough to deny Penola a healthy win as it prepares for finals this week.
